And their favorite line to cut you off with? “No, no, you don’t understand….”

As in, you are telling a story in which you almost lost the use of your left arm and went partially deaf in one ear, and are cut off with “No, no, you don’t understand, this was the mother of ALL hangnails….” (That’s just a hypothetical example, my arm was fine )

Just overheard (and then interrupted) the following conversation at the Embassy cashier window:

Person: “Excuse me, I’m TDY (temporary duty) here, can I cash travellers’ checks here?”
Teller: “Sorry sir, not here, but they cash them at the bank window, upstairs at the club.”
P: “Yeah, but there’s, like, 50 people in line there”
T: “That is the only place allowed to cash them, I am very sorry” (he really was polite and apologetic)
P: “But that line’s too long!”

Me: “That line situation isn’t going to change soon, try practicing some patience.”
P: “Excuse me?”
Me: “There’s a line because, in case you didn’t notice during your travels from hotel to office to bank window to bar, we’re in Pakistan - they’re celebrating Ramadan, and in consideration of that all the services manned by local personnel are open for limited hours. There’s going to be a line everywhere you go.”
P: “But that takes too long!”
Me: “Wait a month. The lines will slow down when the folks manning the windows aren’t fasting for 12 hours a day or more and thus able to work a schedule more in concert with YOUR wishes.”
P: “But I’m not here a month!”
Me: “Better get in line quick then…..”

At that point I walked off. What is it about some people that convinces them they don’t have to deal with things that affect everyone around them, that they’re so special they should get deferential treatment just because they feel they shouldn’t have to wait in line?

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“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and are more useful in general.”
Mark Rippetoe

“We have reached an age where most men look like a twinkie with a butt crack and are about as useful in any kind of violent situation.”
Jeff Martin

“Most people will never train correctly, because it is hard. I can’t think of a better way to sort the wheat from the chaff.”
Mark Rippetoe

....and while I’m on the topic of Embassy employees, a short ditty on “know the environment you’re going to.”

The Embassy is expanding quickly, with every single interested organization snapping up real estate left and right. As a result of the expansion, trailers are being installed next to one of the main buildings to make room for more employees. These trailers are stacked two high, and as I type the stairs are being welded and painted to allow access to the top half of the double-tall (and yes, the trailer park jokes abound). One employee REFUSED TO MOVE if she was going to be placed on the second floor, because it would be too hard on her knees. Said knees are under constant battering by the extra 120-150 pounds the lady is carrying on her frame.

On a side note, this Embassy is considered a “critical threat” post - armored vehicles for overland travel outside the city, etc etc.

Who’s going to help her get out of danger quickly when (not if) it comes? She’s clearly in no condition to do it herself. At what point does PC, or equal opportunity, take over common sense? If your physical condition - fitness, health, whatever - precludes you from taking basic measures to protect yourself, you shouldn’t be in a critical threat post! I’m defining “basic measures” here pretty minimally - run 300 feet to the nearest hardpoint in the compound (you’re rarely further than that), quickly move to the nearest cover and get down behind it (never more that 50 feet or so, even on the athletic fields), things like that. I won’t even enter the hardpoints on the second or third floor of any building into consideration, as this employee’s unwillingness to climb a flight of stairs has been documented. When can we look at a prospective employee and say without fear of litigation, “Sorry, but you’re not going to Country X, you would pose a hazard to others by becoming a burden in times of emergency.”

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“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and are more useful in general.”
Mark Rippetoe

“We have reached an age where most men look like a twinkie with a butt crack and are about as useful in any kind of violent situation.”
Jeff Martin

“Most people will never train correctly, because it is hard. I can’t think of a better way to sort the wheat from the chaff.”
Mark Rippetoe

In I-Bad, a CO for FAST came down and I was giving him the grand tour of the compound. You know, LZ’s, OP’s, safe havens, etc.

He asks, “So where does everyone go if something should happen”

I show him 1 of a few places.

As a few heavyweights walk by, he then asks, “Its so small… is everyone going to fit?”

“That’s a good question… but no one wants to participate in the drills to find out. The RSO is very cautious about getting involvement of all personnel. People are sensitive about the whole Jeddah thing…”

“By the end of the week, he’ll be accusing me of being a communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten.”Barrack Obama, Joking about McCain’s repeated efforts to paint Obama’s progressive tax policy as evidence of “socialist” views

Newsweek, February 16th 2009WE ARE ALL SOCIALISTS NOW
In many ways our economy already resembles a European one. As boomers age and spending grows, we will become even more French.

“One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective.”

“The stimulus bill ... calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.”

“Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464). The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle’s book. This board approves or rejects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit.”

Yep, if they pay for it, they can ration it. I believe that is the Canada and British model. GP care in Germany is pretty good, cheap and fast. Something complicated like knee replacement has several months long waiting list.

I dislike the fundamental changes in the economy and our country that are taking place without any measured consideration. I dislike both the changes and lack of the fundamental debate. Have to call Kay Baily and John and ask them delay this crap as long as they can, but they are fighting a losing battle.

Can’t speak for everyone else, but I will ALWAYS remember who stood with us. I remember Bali. And I will never forget that y’all stood with us and paid a price.

TP

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The common denominator of success—- the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful—- lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.—Albert Grey